Continuous running bar switching and cutoff apparatus



July 19, 1966 J, w, NARGANG ET AL 3,261,247

CONTINUOUS RUNNING BAR SWITCHING AND CUTOFF APPARATUS Filed June 8, L9645 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORLS) JOHN W. NARGANG BY A. DEAN SMITH ATTORN YTIEI2 July 19, 1966 w NARGANG ET AL 3,261,247

CONTINUOUS RUNNING BAR SWITCHING AND CUTOFF APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed June 8, L964 FIE-4.:

INVENTOMS) JOHN W. NARGANG A. DEAN SMITH y 1966 J. w. NARGANG ET ALCONTINUOUS RUNNING BAR SWITCHING AND CUTOFF APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed June 8, L964 INVENTOR(5) JOHN W. NARGANG A. DEAN SMITH UnitedStates Patent 3,261,247 CONTINUOUS RUNNING BAR SWITCHING AND CUTUFFAPPARATUS John W. Nargang, Lafayette, and Arthur D. Smith, also known asA. Dean Smith, San Lorenzo, Calif, assignors to Kaiser Aluminum &Chemical Corporation, Oakland, Calif., a corporation of Delaware FiledJune 8, 1964, Ser. No. 373,437 12 Claims. (Cl. 83-106) This inventionrelates to a method and an apparatus for intermittently and controllablycutting a continuously moving web of rod material or the like intoselected lengths and then directing the new leading edge of the rodmaterial toward a further work station, without stopping or otherwiseinterfering either with the continuous advancement of the main rod webor of the movement of the cut section. More particularly it is concernedwith providing a unique method and apparatus for intermittently andcontrollably cutting a continuously moving Web of rod material in such afashion that simultaneously with the cutting of the rod web a differentdirectional movement is given to the new leading edge and the rod webfrom that previously established for the severed length of rod andeffecting all this without interfering either with the continuousadvance of the main rod web or the movement of the severed rod section.

Accordingly, it is a primary purpose of the instant invention to providea unique method and apparatus for periodically serving a continuouslyadvancing Web of rod material or the like into selected lengths and atthe same time giving a difierent directional movement to the new leadingedge of the Web from that previously established for a severed length ofrod and effecting all of this without interfering either with thecontinuous advance of the main rod web or the movement of the severedrod section.

This and other purposes and advantages of the instant invention willbecome more apparent from a review of the following detailed descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view with parts broken away and on a reduced scaleof one embodiment of a suitable apparatus for carrying out the teachingsof the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partly sectional and partly elevational view ofthe apparatus of FIG. 1 when generally taken along line 2-2 thereof,with certain parts being broken away to illustrate details of theswitching mechanism of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 whentaken generally along line 33 of FIG. 2 with parts removed andillustrates further detail-s of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view partly broken away of the diverter gateused in the preferred apparatus of the instant invention;

FIG. 5 is side elevational view of the diverter gate shown in FIG. 4 andwith parts thereof broken away;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the apparatusof FIG. 1 and illustrates one operative position of the combinationcutting and switching mechanism of the instant invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of the cutting and switchingmechanism of the apparatus of FIG. 1 and illustrates another operativeposition of the mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view on a reduced scale of one of the partsassociated with the cutting mechanism;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the part shown in FIG. 8 andillustrates the manner in which it is connected to the cutting mechanismproper; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a suitable electrical 3,261,247 PatentedJuly 19, 1966 circuit that can be used to control the operation of apreferred form of apparatus of the instant invention.

With further reference to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 13, apreferred form of apparatus that can be used in carrying out theteachings of the instant invention generally comprises a framework 10made up of plate members preferably welded together in the configurationshown to which a diverter gate 12, which is hereinafter described indetail, is attached. An elongated rod web such as one made of metal andrepresented by the solid reference line 14 is continuously delivered tothe delivery chute 16 of the apparatus of FIG. 1, by means (not shown)and then out through one of two outlet chutes 18 of the apparatus. Whenthe apparatus of the instant invention is actuated or pivoted to anotherposition as shown by the dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 3, the rod web asrepresented by the dotted reference line 14 is delivered at a differentangle to the apparatus by the delivery chute 16 and through theapparatus from which it then exits through the other outlet chute 18.

The framework 10 generally consists of a bottom or base plate 22interconnected by an upright plate 26 to a top parallel and smallerplate 24 of somewhat triangular configuration. The top and bottom plates22 and 24 are maintained in parallel spaced relation by a pair of spacedreinforcing upright plates 28 that project from the rear face of theintermediate plate 26. Each plate 23 intermediate its length, includes ahorizontal sleeve 30 that also extends at one end through an opening,generally indicated at 32, in the plate 26. A table 34 is defined by ahorizontal flat plate that projects from the forward face of the plate26 and it is supported at opposite ends above the base plate 22 by apair of spaced upright plates 36 only one of which is completely shownin FIG. 2. The connection of the table 34 at each end to the uprightplates 36 is further rigidified by means of a reinforcing plate 38.

The forward end of the framework 10 pivotally supports a subframe 40,which carries the cutter mechanism. To pivotally support the subframe 40at the upper end, the forward end of the top plate 24 is provided with acylindrical bearing member 42 within which a pin 44 connected tosubframe 40 is disposed. To maintain the angular relationship,preferably a right angle, between the plate 24 and the plate 26, a pairof reinforcing plates 46, that diverge radially outward from the outersurface of the cylindrical member 42, are arranged to extend between theplate 26 and the member 42, in the manner shown in FIG. 1. The forwardend of the bottom plate 22 also includes a lower bearing member 42'within which a pin 44 is also connected to subframe 40. The lowerbearing member 42' is reinforced by a pair of somewhat L-shaped plates48 which are partially shown, and which are secured along their linearedges to the plates 36, base plate 22 and the lower cylindrical bearingmember 42'. The upper and lower spaced bearing members 42 and 42 act astrunnions in supporting the subframe 40 by means of the pins 44 and 44secured thereto preferably about a vertical axis.

The subframe 40 is advantageously comprised of a pair of spaced buthorizontally disposed plates 50 which are maintained in the properspaced relation by a backing plate 52 that extends therebetween. Agusset type plate 54 is also vertically disposed adjacent each plate 50in order to maintain and reinforce the connection of each plate 50 tothe various portions of the backing plate 52 in the manner indicated inFIG. 2. Each of the forward ends of the plates 50 and 54 has acylindrical member 56 aflixed thereto and each of these members 56 ispro vided with a longitudinal bore. The spaced members 56 are adapted topivotally support the subframe 40 relative to frame and preferably abouta vertical axis upon the insertion of the pins 44 and 44' into thealigned bores of the members 42, 42 and 56, in the manner indicated, forexample, in FIG. 2.

As noted above the subframe includes a rotatable cutter mechanism 58.This cutter mechanism is made up of a pair of identical open end sleevemembers secured at one end within apertures in the backing plate 52while the intermediate portions of each sleeve member 60 are anchored toone of the two opposed parallel edges of the reinforcing plates 54. Abracing plate 62 is mounted between and connected to each sleeve member60. The outside face of the backing plate 52 has a gear case 63 af'fixed thereto. This gear case 63 is made up of an outer cover plate 64spaced from the backing plate 52 by the surrounding generally gearshaped sidewall plate 66. A power driven shaft 68 extends through theupper sleeve 60 and the gear case 63. A power driven pulley 70 isconnected to this shaft 68 and a rotary cutter 72 of suitable design isconnected to shaft 68 at its inner end. The lower sleeve 60 includes asimilar shaft 74. Shaft 74, however, does not protrude beyond the gearcase 63 as does shaft 60. A gear 76 mounted on shaft 74 is driven by agear 78 affixed to shaft 68. The forward end of the shaft 74 has anidentical lower rotary cutter 72 which cooperates with upper cutter 72on shaft 68. The lower cutter, however, is mounted in reverse manner tothe upper rotary cutter 72. The cutting edges of each cutter 72 arearranged in such a fashion that the peripheral cutting edge of eachcutter is disposed closely adjacent to or in near abutting contact withone another at the point 79. The significance of arranging the rotarycutters 72 such that their cutting edges are almost in point-to-pointcontact with each other will be discussed more fully hereinafter.

It is to be understood that the particular manner in which the rotarycutters are fastened to the forward ends of the shafts 68 and 74 as wellas the particular manner in which the tapered roller bearings 80 aremounted to support the shaft 68 or 74, as the case may be, isconventional in the art and a conventional cap 82 is used 'to cover theforward end of each sleeve 60 in order to properly enclose the bearings80.

A motor 84 is mounted in a suitable fashion on the top plate 50 throughthe medium of a relatively vibrationfree support 86 that is affixed tothe top surface of the plate 50. The shaft of motor 84 is then connectedby a pulley 88 and an endless V-belt 90 to the pulley 70 for rotatablydriving the shaft 68 and, in turn, rotating the other shaft 74 in theopposite direction by means of the interconnecting gears 78 and 76. Thepreferred rotation of the oppositely rotatable cutters 72 on shafts 63and 74 is indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 6 and 7. The motor isadvantageously a conventional direct current motor for maintaining therotatable cutters at a controlled constant rotating speed.

A fluid actuating means is provided for pivoting of the subframe 40 inan arc between two cutting positions or stations of the apparatus. Thisfluid actuating means includes a fluid actuating cylinder 92 suitablysecured in a manner not shown to an upper portion of one upright wall ofplate 26 whereby the piston rod 94 connected to the piston in cylinder92 is adapted to freely extend through an opening 96 in the plate 26 sothat the enlarged forward end of the rod 94 can be pin-connected to abifurcated crank arm 98. The crank arm 98 is affixed to and projectsradially outward from the upper plate 50 of the movable subframe 40. Thesubframe 40 is pivoted to the solid line upper angular position shown inFIGS. 1 and 3 when the fluid cylinder 92 is actuated to extend the rod94 by a control means to be hereinafter described. When the subframe 40is in the upper position, the planar position of the cutters 72 is bestshown in FIG. 6. Similarly, when the fluid cylinder 92 is actuated toretract the piston rod 94, the subframe 40 is pivoted from the upperposition to the lower position shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 3.correspondingly the position of the cutters 72 with the subframe 40 inthe lower position is best shown in FIG. 7. To limit the extent of theangular movement in either direction of the subframe 40 stop members 100are secured to the upper cylindrical pin bearing member 42 of theframework 10. They are adapted to be engaged by a stop member 102secured to the upper plate 50 of the pivotal subframe 40.

A pair of horizontally aligned but spaced guide blocks 104 are arrangedon the framework 10. These blocks are adapted to be selectively movablein opposite directions between extreme positions in a horizontal planeimmediately above the top surface of the table 34 in a manner to bedescribed more fully hereinafter. The space guide blocks 104 are adaptedto continuously feed a web of rod material represented by referencenumeral 14 and which is initially received from the delivery chute 16through the apparatus. The selective movement of the blocks 104 with therod web 14 is fully coordinated with the angular position of the cuttermechanism on the subframe 40 to assure proper movement of the rodagainst and through the cutter mechanism at the cutting point 79 tothereby sever the rod into forward and trailing sections. Further, thecutting point 79 for either angular position of the cutters 72 islocated intermediate the extreme positional movement of the guide blocks104. It is to be further observed that the continuously fed rod web 14during selective movement of the guide blocks 104 is always arranged tomove through the cutting point 79 of the cutters 72 to thereby assureeflicient cutting action while at the same time not interfering eitherwith the continuous advancement of main rod Web toward the apparatus orthe movement of the cut section of rod away from the apparatus. Tofacilitate free passage of the continuously fed rod web 14 through theblocks 104, horizontally and vertically spaced rollers are provided atthe exit end of each block. In FIG. 3, for example, only the upperhorizontal roller 106 is shown. The delivery chute 16 for all practicalpurposes can comprise a series of interconnected guide blocks, whereinthe exit block of the chute 16 is pivotally connected or linked at itsexit end in a suitable manner to the forward end of the inlet guideblock 104. This pivotal connection enables the chute 16 to assume thesolid or dotted line position, shown in FIG. 1.

Selective movement of the guide blocks 104 between extreme positions iseffected by a means of a fluid act-uator mounted on the framework 10behind the plate 26. The fluid actuator comprises a cylinder 108 whichis secured at its rod end to the intermediate portion of a strap member110 that is afiixed at either of its ends to the rearward end of theaforementioned sleeves 30. A piston (IOd 111 extending from the cylinder108 projects through an aperture in the intermediate portion of thestrap member 110 and it is connected at its outermost end to a tie bar112 disposed between and interconnected with nods 114 that are :alignedwith and extend through the longitudinal bore of the assoioated sleeves30. The forward end of each rod 114 is rigidly connected to one of theblocks 104, preferably by a right angle bracket in the manner shown inFIGS. 3 and 6. When the fluid cylinder 108 is actuated by control meansto be hereinafter described, whereby the piston rod becomes fullyextended, the guide blocks 104 will move to the left 'hand positionshown in solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 3. Alternately, when the fluidcylinder 108 is actuated to effect the full (retraction of the pistonrod 110, the guide blocks 104 will assume the right hand or fullyadvanced position shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 3. In otherwords, during all of the aforesaid movements the guide blocks are movedin a reciprocating fashion relative to the cutting plane of the cuttingmeans or rotary cutters.

As indicated in FIG. 1, the diverter gate 12, located adjacent the exitend of the trailing guide block 104, is affixed in a suitable =fiashinby bolt means 117 to a pair of spaced upright plates 116 which aresecured along one \of their edges to the adjacent upright plate 36. Theconfiguration of the diveiter gate 12, which can be made in the form ofa casting, is best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The outwardly flaring exitend of the diverter gate 12 is subdivided into a pair of channels ortubes 120 which direct the alternately renewable and leading edge of therod web in alternate directions. The diverter gate 12 includes aninternal baffle 119 the apex of which is suitably rounded Oh fordirecting the continuously fed rod to either of the channels 120. Thewalls of these channels advantageously have convergent wall surfaces inthe direction of travel of the rod. Consequently, the narrowest end ofeach channel 120 is arranged adjacent to and aligned with the assoicatedinlet end of the proper outlet chute 18. To facilitate travel of the rodthrough the diverter gate 12, parallel spaced horizontal and verticalrollers 122 and 124 respectively are mounted in a conventional fashionat the exit end of the diverter gate 12.

It is to be observed here that when the rod 14, being fed through theapparatus, is switched by selective movement of the guide blocks 104 toone of the channels 120, the apex of baffle 119 will always be disposedin proper relation with respect to the cutting point 79 regardless ofthe speed of movement of the \guide blocks 104 and the speed of travelof the rod 14. Assuming for the purpose of illustration that a cutsection of the rod web is moving along the solid line 14 in one of thechannels 120 in FIG. 4 and that the guide blocks 104 are beingselectively moved from the solid line position to the dotted lineposition with the cuters 72 in the position of FIG. 6, the apex ofbafiie 119 will still be so disposed relative to the cutting point 79and the guide blocks 104, which are now moving toward the dotted lineposition, that the guide blocks will advantageously align themselvesproperly with the other channel 120 before the trailing end of the outrod section has completely passed through the trailing guide block 164and the smoothly rounded apex of baffle 119 will tend to direct thetrailing end of the cut rod section toward the other channel 120 in themanner shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. In other words, the apex ordiversion point of bafiie 119 is so located relative to blocks 104 andcutting point 79 that during diversion or shitfing of the renewedleading edge of the main rod web alternately from one channel 120 toanother there will be substantially zero interference with the forwardmovement of the main rod web. The rounded nose on apex of baflie 119presents no sharp or irregular surface which can score or cause ajamming of the rod sections. When the guide blocks 104 are moved back tothe solid line position, and with the cutters 72 in the position of FIG.7, the rod would again be cut into forward and trailing rod sectionswhereby the. trailing rod section can be efliciently switched to theproper channel 120 in a similar manner.

In order to properly confine the continuously advancing rod web betweenthe spaced and horizontally aligned guides 104 as well as on the properside of the cutting point 79 of the rotary cutters 72, a pair ofhorizontal and vertical guides 126 and 128 respectively are arranged onthe switching mechanism. More specifically, each horizontal guide 126,as best shown in FIG. 3, consists of a one-piece plate guide member 130,slightly beveled at the ends. Member 130 extends between the exit end ofthe forward guide block 104 and the inlet end of the trailing block 104.The plates 130 are connected to a mounting bracket having parallelspaced arm 132 ex tending from the guide plate 130 to a base plate 134that is fastened in a suitable fashion to the plate 34. The horizontalguides 126 advantageously have their base plates 134 secured adjacent toparallel opposed edges of an enlarged opening 136 in the plate 34whereby the opening 136 is proportioned to allow sufficient clearancefor pivotal movement of the circular rotary cutters 72 on the subframe40. The enlarged opening 136 has -a periphcry with two opposedcircumferential portions interconnected by the parallel opposed edges.

As indicated, particularly in FIGS. 8 and 9, the vertical guides 128 forconfining the rod web are connected in a suitable fashion to the sleeves60 which support the cutter shafts 68 and 74. Referring to FIGS. 8 and9, each vertical guide 128 includes a circular plate 138 provided withan aperture 140 which is of the same general crosssectionalconfiguration ias but somewhat larger than crosssection dimension of thecutter 72 at that point. A side :plate member 142 surounds thecircumferential periphery of the plate 138 and is aflixed thereto. Theopposed ends of the plate member 142 are spaced from each other to allowinsertion of a plate member 144 therebetwe-en that functions as anattaching bracket. The plate 144 is afiixed to both the opposed ends ofthe surrounding plate 142 and to a linear portion of the bottom plate138. The upstanding bracket member 144 is adapted to be connected to abracket member 146 of similar configuration aflixed to a lower portionof the outer surface of the sleeve 60. The attaching bracket 144 of theguide 128 is reinforced in its connection to the plates 138 and 142 ofthe guide 128 by triangularly shaped gusset plates 147, best shown inFIG. 8. The vertical guide 128 is fastened to the associated bracket 146preferably by bolts passing through suitable elignable openings in thebrackets 144 and 146.

It is to be understood that the spacing between the vertical guides 128is proportioned to accommodate the cross-sectional size of the rod webbeing fed through the guide blocks 104 while the horizontal guides 126are proportionately spaced to accommodate the cross-sectional size ofthe rod web between the cutting point 79 of the cutters and the adjacentguide 126 depending upon which side of the cutters the continuouslyadvancing rod is located prior to movement of the rod to the other sideof the cutting zone defined by the cutting point 79 by actuation of theguide blocks 104. In the absence of confining the rod between thehorizontal and vertical guides 126 and 128, it is possible that the rodweb may fly out of control during or after cutting at the cutting point79 when it is switched by movement of the guide blocks 104.

A suitable control circuit, one advantageous embodiment of which isschematically shown in FIG. 10, and preferably energized by asixty-cycle current source, is employed to automatically operate theaforedescribed selectvie movements of the guide blocks 104 and thecutter subframe 40 in proper synchronization to thereby efficientlyswitch the renewable leading edge of the continuously advancing rod webfrom one outlet chute 18 to the other. The fluid cylinders 92 and 108are preferably pneumatically operated and are energized by solenoidactuated valves connected to the fluid cylinders in the appropriatemanner.

The motor 84, for rotating the cutters 72, is connected across sourcelines 150 and 152 and by a manual stop switch 154 in series with aspring biased starting switch 156. Depression of the starting switch 156energizes the motor relay within the motor 84 to close the normally opencontacts MC1 bridged across the starting switch to thereby maintain themotor energized until depression of the stop switch. It is to beunderstood that the direct current motor 84 includes conventional meansfor transforming supplied alternating current to direct current. Switchrelays SWR1 and SWR2 are connected across the source lines through aconventional three position selector switch 146, schematically shown,that controls the energization of these relays for either automatic orsemi-automatic operation. These relays SWR-l and SWR-2, in turn, controlthe cyclical movements of the guide blocks 104 and the subframe 40 inopposite directions between their extreme positions. By appropriatemechanical means not shown, the selector switch 146 is moved to thefully automatic position whereby the noropen.

ma-lly open contacts C-2 are closed. Thus, upon closure of the limitswitch LWS-Cl by an apparatus not shown, such as a rod coiler associatedwith the left hand outlet chute 18 in FIG. 1, the relay SWR2 connectedacross the lines 150 and 152 will become energized to thereby close thenormally open contacts S21. Closing of the contacts 52-1 energizes thesolenoid valve SOL-2 associated with the fiuid cylinder 108 to therebyactuate the piston rod 110 to move the guide blocks 104 to their extremeadvanced position illustrated by the dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 3. Byvirtue of this movement of the guide blocks, the continuously fed rodweb is moved through the cutting zone 79 with the cutters in theposition of FIG. 6 and severed into successive sections with the forwardend of the trailing nod section at the same time being directed to theright outlet chute 18 of FIG. 1. The shears or cutters 72 must now bereoriented so as to assume the proper blade or cutter angle relative tothe rod web for the next cutting action. During cutting of the rod webthe shears are advantageously disposed at an acute angle relative to thelongitudinal axis of the nod Web as it is moved through the cuttingzone. This acute angle can be defined as the angle formed between theleading side of the rod Web, when the rod web is first presented to theshears during any given cutting thereof, and the surfaces of the shearsdirectly opposed to said leading side of the web. It is also to beunderstood that once the rod web passes through the shears that thetrailing side of the rod will then assume an acute angle relative to thesurfaces of the shear-s opposed thereto. During this time the obtuse(angle formed at the exit end of the shears provides for an obtuse angleof cut for the rod web and a minimum interference of the cutters withthe paths of travel either of the main rod web or the section being cuttherefrom. This is accomplished i as follows:

,of the contacts C2-1 connects the solenoid valve SOL-2' connectedacross the lines 150 and 152 to thereby energize the solenoid valveSOL2' and actuate the piston rod 94 to move the sub-frame 40 nrom thesolid line position shown to the dotted line position shown in FIGS. 1and 3 that corresponds to the cutter position in FIG. 7. The guideblocks 104 and the cutter frame 40 will then remain in their dotted linepositions shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 until the apparatus (not shown) such asa second rod coiler associated with the right outlet chute 18 in FIG. 1indicates that it has become fully wound with the continuously fed rodby closing the limit switch LWS-C2 in FIG. to thereby connect the relaySWR-1 across the lines 150 and 152, while at the same time causing theopening of switch LWS-Cl because of the interconnection of theoppositely acting switches LWS-C1 and LWS- C2 whereby relay SWR-Z dropsout and contacts S2-1 open.

Energization of therelay SWR-l closes the normally open contacts 81-1 toconnect the solenoid valve for cylinder 108 across the lines 150 and152. Energiza- .tion of the solenoid valve SOL-1 for cylinder 108alctuates the piston-rod 110 of the cylinder 108 to thereby move theguide blocks 104 to their retracted extreme position as shown in solidlines in FIGS. 1 and 3. Movement of guide blocks 104 to their retractedposition in FIGS. 1 and 3 also closes a second limit switch SW-l mountedon the framework 10 in an appropriate manner to thereby connect thesecond cutter frame relay CR-1 across the lines 150- and 152 and to openswitch SW-Z because of the interconnection of switches SW-1 and SW2whereby relay CR2 drops out and contacts. C2-1 Energization of the relayC-R-l closes the normally ope-n contacts C11 across the solenoid valvefor cylinder 108. Clo-sure of the contacts C1-1 connects the solenoidvalve SOL-1 across the lines 150 and 152 whereby energization of thesolenoid valve SOL-1 for cylinder 92 actuates the piston rod 94 of thecylinder 92 to thereby move the cutter frame 40 from its dotted lineposition hack to the solid line position indicated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6.Thus, the circuit in FIG. 10 properly coordinates the movements of theguide blocks 104 and the subframe 40 with the cutters 72 andautomatically repeats the cycle of coordinated movements providing therod coilers when fully wound with rod at the outlet ends of the outletohutes 18 properly close the appropriate limit switch, LWS-C1 or LWSC2.

In the event that only part of the aforedescribed cycle in the aboveparagraph is desired the selector switch 146 can be positioned forsemi-automatic operation of the guide blocks 104 and the cutter frame40. The selector switch 146 is also connected in series with the startswitch across the lines 150 and 152 whereby manual movement of theselector switch from the automatic position to a second position byappropriate mechanical means, not shown, closes normally open contactsC-1 that are series connected to the starting switch and the relaySWR-l. Closing of the contacts C-1 and the starting switch connects therelay SWR-l across the lines 150 and 152 whereby energization of therelay SWR-l, in turn, closes relay contacts S11 to thereby connectsolenoid valve SOL-1 of the fiuid cylinder 108 across the lines 150 and152. As aforedescribed energization of the solenoid valve SOL-1 actuatesthe piston rod 110 of the cylinder 108 to move the guide blocks 104 totheir retracted position. Depending upon whether there is a rod passingthrough the guide blocks 104, the rod will be cut into sections uponmovement through the cutting point 79 of the cutters 72 which are in theposition of FIG. 7. Full retracted movement of the guide blocks 104closes the limit switch SW-l to connect the relay CR-l across the linesand 152 to thereby close the normally open contacts C1-1 to connect thesolenoid valve SOL1' of the fluid cylinder 92 across the lines 150 and152. Energization of the valve SOL-1' of cylinder 92 actuates the pistonrod of the cylinder 52 to thereby pivot the cutter frame 40 to the solidline position in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6.

Similarly, movement of the appropriate mechanical means of the selectorswitch 146 to a third and last position closes the normally opencontacts C3. Such closing connects the relay SWR2 across lines 150 and152 through the start switch and the closed contacts C-3 of the selectorswitch 146. In view of the above description, it is evident that theenergized relay SWR-Z energizes solenoid valve SOL-2 for cylinder 108for advanced movement of the guide blocks 104 with the rod through thecutters 72 in the position of FIG. 6. Completion of the advancedmovement closesthe limit switch SW-Z for movement of the cutter frame 40to the dotted line position of FIGS. 1 and 3. Thus, the selector switch146 provides a simple arrangement for automatic or manual operation.

In view of the aforedescribed apparatus of the instant invention itshould be readily apparent that it carries out the method steps ofcontinuously feeding the rod through the guide blocks 104 whether or notthe blocks 104 are selectively moved in either direction. Further, theangular path movements of cutter subframe 40 are coordinated with theselective movements of the guide blocks 104 with the rod web 14 wherebythe cutter frame 40 is always in an extreme position that establishesthe rotary cutters in the proper position relative to the path of travelof the rod web. Such coordinated movements of the rod 14 and cutterframe 40 in combination with the affixed diverter gate 12 assure properswitching of the renewed end of the trailing main rod web to thealternate outlet chute 18. In addition, confining the rod between theguide blocks 104 and the cutting point 79 of the rotary 9 cutters 72prevents any rod section during or after cutting from moving out of itsgeneral path of travel between the guide blocks 104.

It has been found in the use of the apparatus that the peripheral speedof the cutters 72 is preferably 10% greater than the linear speed oftravel of the rod web 14 between the entry and exit guide blocks 104.For best results in cutting the rod 14, the cutter frame 40 has beenpositioned at an angle slightly less than 45 relative to the path oftravel of the rod web 14. It is also to be understood that at the startup of the operation the rod will be initially threaded through theapparatus and wound under tension about a rod coiler. Once this has beeneffected the cutting apparatus can then be adjusted for either anautomatic or manual operation depending upon the results desired.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed. It would be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from thespirit and scope thereof as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for selectively switching and moving a continuouslyadvancing rod web or the like through a cutting means so as to orientthe renewed leading edge of the rod web from which a selected length ofrod is cut during movement of the rod web through said cutting meansinto a preselected delivery chute, comprising the combination of aframe, a cutting means, rod Web guide means for receiving said rod webmounted on said frame, means pivotally mounting said cutting meansrelative to said rod web guide means, means for effecting reciprocatingmovement of said guide means relative to the cutting plane of saidcutting means, said guide means being adapted upon the movement thereofin either direction to move the rod web and to pass the rod web throughsaid cutting means and effect a separation of a length of rod from thesaid rod web, rod web confining means associated with said cutting meansand a portion of said confining means being movably mounted foradjustment in accordance with the pivotal movement of the cutting means,and a plurality of delivery chutes one of which is adapted toselectively receive a renewed leading edge of the rod Web produced bysaid cutting means.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cutting meansincludes opposed rotatable cutters and the peripheral speed of saidcutters is at least equal to the speed of the continuously advancing rodweb.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means forsynchronizing the movements of said cutting and guide means with respectto each other and said advancing rod web.

4. An apparatus for selectively switching and moving a continuouslyadvancing rod web or the like through a cutting means so as to orientthe renewed leading edge of the rod web from which a selected length ofrod is cut during movement of the rod web through said cutting meansinto a preselected delivery chute, comprising the combination of aframe, a cutting means, rod web guide means for receiving said rod Webmounted on said frame, means for effecting reciprocating movement ofsaid guide means relative to the cutting plane of said cutting means,said guide means being adapted upon the movement thereof in eitherdirection to move the rod web and to pass the rod web through saidcutting means and effect a separation of a length of rod from the saidrod web, a plurality of delivery chutes one of which is adapted toselectively receive a renewed leading edge of the rod web produced bysaid cutting means and said guide means comprising a pair of spacedlinearly aligned guide blocks in said frame with the cutting means beingdisposed intermediate the spaced guide blocks and means for shifting theblocks in unison crosswise of the cutting means.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cutting meansincludes opposed rotatable cutters and means for orienting said cuttersat an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said rod web prior tothe passage of the rod web through said cutting means.

6. An apparatus for selectively switching and moving a continuouslyadvancing rod web or the like through a cutter means so as to orient therenewed leading edge of the rod web from which a selected length of rodis cut during movement of the rod web through said cutter means into apreselected delivery channel, comprising the combination of a framemeans, a diverter gate mounted on said frame means and provided with aplurality of outlet delivery channels, rod web guide means mounted onsaid frame means and on opposite sides of said cutter means forreceiving said rod web, said rod web guide means also being selectivelymovable and alignable with one of the outlet channels of said divertergate, means for selectively moving and aligning said guide means withone of said outlet delivery channels on the diverter gate, a cuttermeans disposed in the path of travel of said guide means during themovements thereof, rod web confining means associated with said cuttermeans and said guide means and a portion of said rod web confining meansbeing movably mounted to assure proper passage of the rod web throughsaid cutter means whereby the rod web will be moved through said cuttermeans and the renewed leading edge of the rod web produced during thecutting of said rod web will be given a different directional movementfrom that previously established for the length of rod severed from therod web during the passage of the rod web through said cutter means.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including means for orientingsaid cutter means at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said rod webprior to each passage of the rod web through said cutter means and meansfor synchronizing the orientation of said cutter means with themovements of said guide means.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the movable portion ofsaid rod web confining means is aflixed to said cutter means.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said diverter gate isprovided with a baffle disposed in the path of travel of said rod webfor separating said diverter gate into said plurality of outlet deliverychannels, and the edge of said baflie having a smoothly rounded-off aex.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said guide means andsaid diverter gate include roller means to facilitate the movementtherethrough of the renewed leading edge of the rod web.

11. An apparatus for selectively switching and moving a continuouslyadvancing rod web or the like through a cutter means so as to orient therenewed leading edge of the rod web from which a selected length of rodis cut during movement of the rod web through said cutter means into apreselected delivery channel, comprising the combination of a framemeans, a diverter gate mounted on said frame means and provided with aplurality of outlet delivery channels, laterally shiftable rod web guidemeans mounted on said frame means for receiving said rod web, said rodweb guide means comprising spaced and linearly aligned guide blocks,said guide blocks being selectively movable in unison and alignable withone of the outlet channels of said diverter gate, a cutter meansdisposed in the path of travel of said guide blocks during the movementsthereof, means for selectively moving and aligning said guide blockswith one of said outlet delivery channels on the diverter gate, wherebythe rod web will be moved through said cutter means and the renewedleading edge of the rod web produced during the cutting of said rod webwill be given a different directional movement from that previouslyestablished for the length of rod severed from the rod web during thepassage of the rod web through said cutter means.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including means for orientingsaid cutter means at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said rod webprior to each passage of the rod web through said cutter means and meansfor synchronizing the orientation of said cutter means with themovements of said guide means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,295,224 2/1919Smith et a1. 242-80 2,170,255 8/1939 Sheperdson 83-102 X I 2,701,0162/1955 Bedson 83105 2,815,812 12/1957 Maximilian 83106 3,109,340 10/1963Kinnicutt et a1. 83--l05 FOREIGN PATENTS 817,548 7/ 1959 Great Britain.

WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner. L. B. TAYLOR, Assistant Examinr.

1. AN APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY SWITCHING AND MOVING A CONTINUOUSLYADVANCING ROD WEB OR THE LIKE THROUGH A CUTTING MEANS SO AS TO ORIENTTHE RENEWED LEADING EDGE OF THE ROD WEB FROM WHICH A SEALECTED LENGTH OFROD IS CUT DURING MOVEMENT OF THE RODL WEB THROUGH SAID CUTTING MEANSINTO A PRESELECTED DELIVERY CHUTE, COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF AFRAME, A CUTTING MEANS, ROD WEB GUIDE MEANS FOR RECEIVING SAID ROD WEBMOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID CUTTING MEANSRELATIVE TO SAID ROD WEB GUIDE MEANS, MEANS FOR EFFECTING RECIPROCATINGMOVEMENT OF SAID GUIDE MEANS RELATIVE TO THE CUTTING PLANE OF SAIDCUTTING MEANS, SAID GUIDE MEANS BEING ADAPTED UPON THE MOVEMENT THEREOFIN EITHER DIRECTION TO MOVE THE ROD WEB AND TO PASS THE ROD WEB THROUGHSAID CUTTING MEANS AND EFFECT A SEPARATION OF A LENGTH OF ROD FROM THESAID ROD WEB, ROD WEB CONFINING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CUTTING MEANSAND A PORTION OF SAID CONFINING MEANS BEING MOVABLY MOUNTED FORADJUSTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE CUTTING MEANS,AND A PLURALITY OF DELIVERY CHUTES ONE OF WHICH IS ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELRECEIVE A RENEWED LEADING EDGE OF THE ROD WEB PRODUCED BY SAID CUTTINGMEANS.